Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact Information
Sage Wilson
Phone: 206-889-0277
Email:Sage.Wilson@seattle.gov
Mayor Wilson announces departmental leadership decisions
SEATTLE - Mayor Wilson today announced her decisions on the leadership of several city departments.
"I could not be more excited about the talent and expertise of the people who have stepped up to lead city departments, and I know that together, this team will be able to accomplish extraordinary things,” said Mayor Wilson. “I look forward to working with Quynh Pham at the Department of Neighborhoods, Amy Nguyen at the Office of Arts and Culture, Beto Yarce at the Office of Economic Development, Lylianna Allala at the Office of Sustainability and the Environment, Rico Quirindongo at the Office of Planning and Community Development, Mina Hashemi at Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Dr. Amarah Khan at the Office of the Employee Ombud. I am grateful to the outgoing department leaders for all of their contributions to the City over the years, and to the interim leaders for stepping up to aid my transition.”
Department of Neighborhoods
The Department of Neighborhoods is dedicated to help neighbors connect, build strong communities, improve their quality of live, and engage with city government. Jenifer Chao will be leaving the Department of Neighborhoods, and Sam Read will fill her role until Quynh Pham becomes Acting Director.
Quyhn is currently the Executive Director of Friends of Little Saigon (FLS), a community development organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing Little Saigon’s cultural, economic, and historical vitality. Her 14 years of nonprofit development experience have shaped local policy, advanced opportunities for Southeast Asian artists and cultural practitioners, and increased investments in BIPOC initiatives around equitable development and small business resiliency. She is also the mother of two toddlers, who continue to fuel her drive to ensure they grow up in a culturally rich, accessible, and diverse community.
Quynh Pham:
"I am honored to step into the Department of Neighborhoods, a department that sits at the intersection of community and government. Through my work at Friends of Little Saigon, I have learned that the most effective solutions come from those closest to the challenges. In this new role, I look forward to working alongside and supporting Seattle’s diverse neighborhoods."
Office of Arts and Culture
The Office of Arts and Culture manages the city’s public arts program, provides grants to support the arts, operates arts education programs and cultural facilities, and strives to make Seattle a place where everyone has the opportunity to engage in diverse arts and cultural experiences. Gülgün Kayim will be leaving the Office of Arts and Culture, and Kelly Davidson will fill her role until Amy Nguyen becomes Acting Director.
Amy Nguyen brings over a decade of public sector leadership to the position, including service as Deputy Director at the Office of Planning & Community Development and as Interim Deputy Director and Public Art Director at the Office of Arts & Culture. Raised in White Center and shaped by experiences in New York and New Orleans, Nguyen is committed to activating and sustaining Seattle through arts and culture, so creativity is something everyone can access, in every neighborhood.
Amy Nguyen:
“Creativity is how a city honors its past, heals its present, and imagines its future. I’m honored to serve as the Acting Director for the Office of Arts & Culture, and excited to support the artists and communities shaping Seattle every day. My north star is a future where more people have resources, space, and freedom to create and where meaningful cultural experiences are within reach and close to home.”
Gülgün Kayim:
“I’m honored to have served Seattle during a time of big changes for the Office of Arts & Culture and the city as we navigate post-pandemic recovery. Since I joined in 2023, I’m proud to have led stabilization of the department after major staffing and scope reductions, complete a comprehensive Strategic Plan, and rebuild capacity. Together, we strengthened community oversight by expanding the Seattle Arts Commission, brought back the King Street Station Advisors, improved operations, launched new programs to support organizational transformation in the cultural sector, and restructured the department to better align with the City’s community and civic priorities.
I’m especially proud of the relationships built with communities, cultural organizations, and civic partners across Seattle, as well as the department’s role in activating Downtown and installing major public art along the Seattle Waterfront. This work has set the stage for Seattle’s first-ever citywide Cultural Plan and prepared us to lead major cultural programming during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”
Office of Economic Development
The Office of Economic Development offers a range of support and resources aimed at supporting local businesses, support thriving neighborhoods, and help build a diverse, robust economy benefits everyone in Seattle. Alicia Teel will return to her position as Deputy Director when Beto Yarce becomes the Acting Director.
Beto is a business executive, entrepreneur, and nonprofit leader dedicated to advancing economic equity and entrepreneurship. Fluent in English and Spanish, he brings over 15 years of experience driving growth and impact across business, nonprofit, and public sectors. Appointed by President Joe Biden as Regional Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Region 10, Beto was responsible for supporting more than 1.3 million small businesses through expanded access to capital, counseling, and federal contracting opportunities. He is the CEO and Founder of Beto Yarce Consulting, where he helps organizations strengthen leadership, strategy, and performance, and previously served as Executive Director of Ventures in Seattle, where he led the organization’s turnaround and expansion. His career reflects a lifelong commitment to empowering communities, strengthening small businesses, and building inclusive economic opportunity.
Beto Yarce:
“I am grateful and honored to serve as Director of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development and to collaborate with Mayor Katie Wilson and her team. I’m thankful for the mayor’s trust and shared commitment to building a more inclusive economy for our city. Together, we will strengthen healthy businesses, support thriving neighborhoods, and partner with community organizations to ensure economic opportunity reaches every corner of Seattle. As a small business owner and immigrant, I understand firsthand the challenges many entrepreneurs face. I am eager to work with our team and community partners to build an economy from the bottom up—expanding access to capital, education, and innovative programs so small businesses can grow, create jobs, and help build lasting prosperity for current and future generations.”
Office of Sustainability and the Environment
The Office of Sustainability and the Environment works to ensure a clean and healthy environment for everyone who lives and works in Seattle. Michelle Caulfield will return to her position as Deputy Director when Lylianna Allala becomes the Acting Director.
Lylianna currently serves as the Interim Deputy Director, and previously served as the City of Seattle’s first Climate Justice Director. As the Climate Justice Director, Lylianna oversaw citywide implementation of Seattle’s Equity & Environment Initiative and Seattle’s Green New Deal. Prior to joining the City, Lylianna led climate & environmental policy & outreach for Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal.
Lylianna Allala:
"I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the Office of Sustainability & Environment under Mayor Wilson's leadership. I share Mayor Wilson’s commitment to building strong and inclusive partnerships and uplifting community centered solutions to ensure that Seattle’s climate action yields tangible benefits for all our communities. I am immensely proud to lead this department of passionate people who have dedicated themselves to implementing innovative policies and programs that meet community needs and improve quality of life through clean air and water, healthy forests and trees, access to fresh foods, and inclusive pathways to careers that help Seattle reduce emissions and become more climate resilient. Caring for the environment must begin with caring for one another."
Office of Planning and Community Development
The Office of Planning and Community Development partners with neighborhoods and businesses, and works across City departments to assess community needs, prioritize resources, and develop of a city that is inclusive, affordable, vibrant, interconnected and innovative. Mayor Wilson is retaining Rico Quirindongo as director of the Office of Planning and Community.
Rico has dedicated over 30 years to revitalizing and reimagining neighborhoods. Through his passion for architecture, civic engagement, and sustainable design, Rico has been at the forefront of projects that breathe new life into Seattle’s urban fabric, ensuring that growth aligns with community values and environmental stewardship. As a founding member of the Northwest Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects, Rico has helped foster diversity and inclusion within the field. His leadership extends across several prominent roles, from chairing the Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority Council to serving as President of AIA Seattle. In 2020, he delivered his first TED Talk and was recognized nationally as a “Citizen Architect” by the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Last year, he was named one of Seattle’s Most Influential by Seattle Magazine. Rico believes in the power of design in shaping resilient, inclusive communities.
Rico Quirindongo:
“It’s an honor to remain at the helm of OPCD under Mayor Wilson’s leadership, and I’m grateful for the trust and partnership that make our work possible. With the passage of the Comprehensive Plan in December, we have an incredible opportunity to shape Seattle’s future. I’m excited to continue working with homeowners, renters, developers, nonprofits, and the design community to envision a city where everyone can live, work, and play. Our commitment is clear: embrace diversity, repair the harms of our redlining past, and create pathways to generational wealth-building in Black and Brown communities. We will foster a city where artists, entrepreneurs, small-business owners, and working families can afford to thrive, be seen, and be celebrated.”
Additional leadership decisions
Mina Hashemi will remain as head of the Office of Intergovernmental Relations, and Dr. Amarah Khan will remain as head of the Office of the Employee Ombud.
Other departments will see interim leadership changes until a permanent director is selected. At the Office of Housing, Maiko Winkler-Chin will be leaving as director, and Andréa Akita will serve as Interim Director. At the Parks Department, AP Diaz will be leaving as director, and Michele Finnegan will serve as Interim Director.
Dr. Amarah Khan:
“It is an absolute privilege to continue to serve the City of Seattle Employees as the Director of the Ombuds Office. Our office is a safe place for employees to report issues and concerns. For nearly seven years, we have diligently upheld the highest standards of confidentiality while ensuring conflict resolution services are provided in a timely manner. I am grateful for Mayor Wilson’s support and faith in this very important work.”
Andréa Akita:
“I’m honored to serve in this interim role, leading the Seattle Office of Housing. Our team is dedicated to stewarding the City’s affordable housing investments, policies, and programs to prevent displacement, create new opportunities, and preserve existing affordable homes. This work is rooted in collaboration, working jointly with others to achieve shared goals, because we know that only by partnering with communities, stakeholders, and advocates can we realize Mayor Wilson’s vision of a Seattle that is affordable for everyone.”
Maiko Winkler-Chin:
“It has been an honor to serve these last four years as Director of the Seattle Office of Housing. This team is one of the smartest in the City, navigating the complex challenges in creating and preserving affordable housing.
It’s never just about housing. It’s about creating lasting community assets, repairing past harms, and ensuring all neighborhoods offer diverse housing options. Our investments bring homes and vital neighborhood elements like small businesses, childcare, libraries, and cultural anchors.
Together, we achieved incredible milestones: passing the nation’s largest Housing Levy at nearly $1 billion, welcoming over 800 low-income families into affordable rental homes, helping 300 families buy their first homes, and advancing projects like Fort Lawton, Mount Baker Station, and Lake City Community Center. We adapted to meet the moment because Seattle has changed, and so must we.
I leave the Office in the hands of my good friend and mission partner, Interim Director Andréa Akita, who will continue the hard work of making sure everyone in Seattle has a healthy and affordable home. I look forward to seeing the policies, programs, and investments OH creates continue to shape Seattle.”
Michele Finnegan:
“I’m honored to serve as Acting Superintendent of Seattle Parks and Recreation, an organization powered by a passionate workforce committed to strengthening communities and improving lives across Seattle through our parks, programs, and services. We share a vision for vibrant communities, a healthy environment, and affordable, accessible opportunities for all. I look forward to partnering with Mayor Wilson, City departments, and community members to support solutions to shared challenges facing our city.
AP Diaz:
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to have led the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department. With a workforce of nearly 2000 employees, they are the ones who make Seattle's Parks the 8th best park system in America. Even in the rainy, cold, and darkest of days they show up and out for community - providing exceptional park experiences, with a love and commitment to enriching the lives of children, teens, adults and our aging population. That's why our motto is Seattle Shines! During the past three years, we launched Swim Seattle to eradicate disproportionate drownings among kids of colors; worked to combat nature deficit syndrome by launching the Red Barn Ranch Initiative; created Seattle Mentors — a wage-based youth employment and mentorship program and are poised to now tackle the epidemic of loneliness plaguing our largest cities. We also secured the United Nations "role model" city status for our work on urban forest regeneration — the only U.S. City to receive this worldwide recognition and a commitment to advance our City's climate initiatives.
These accomplishments reflect only part of what we together helped deliver and performed for our City’s parklands and waterscapes. Whether responding to natural disasters, supporting staff after traumatic events, or reimagining the role of parks in civic life — I endeavored to show up with strength, empathy, a friendly outlook, authenticity and a can-do spirit. I was proud to be the only Latino cabinet member and I am thankful to have been trusted by so many of our SPR workforce, respected in the community, and counted on by various City leaders and stakeholders such as the Seattle Parks Foundation, The Associated Recreation Council, The Zoo, The Aquarium and scores of neighbors, community groups and park advocates."
###
|
